NOW Condemns Senate Failure to Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

For Immediate Release

NOW Condemns Senate Failure to Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

WASHINGTON - The National Organization for Women condemns the Senate's failure
yesterday to repeal the U.S. military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't
Tell (DADT) policy. This policy, which bars lesbians and gay men from
serving openly in the military, has resulted in the unjust discharge of
more than 14,000 service members.

"Women and men who dedicated their lives to serving their country
have had their careers ended -- not because of their job performance but
because of their sexual orientation," said NOW President Terry O'Neill.
"The tide has officially turned on this issue -- 57 percent of people
now say that openly gay service members should be allowed to serve in
the military. Those generals and legislators who cling to this unfair
policy are fighting a losing battle."

The Senate could not break a Republican-orchestrated filibuster
designed to block debate on the annual defense authorization bill, to
which the DADT repeal was attached.

"The House managed to pass a version of the defense bill that
included a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Why can't the Senate do the
right thing?" asked O'Neill.

Although such a repeal would not have taken effect prior to the
certification of the much-awaited Pentagon report on implementation of a
repeal, due Dec. 1, NOW repeatedly has stated that further study is not
warranted, and President Obama should use his authority to suspend any
further discharges until the policy can be formally repealed.

"Starting right now, not another service member should lose their job
due to bigotry or intolerance," said O'Neill. "I want to see our
leaders stand up for the principles of equality and justice. As a matter
of fact, six weeks out from the midterm elections is a perfect time to
put these values into practice."

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. NOW has 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Further

Academics are increasingly, ingeniously fighting back against an Orwellian "Professor Watchlist" aimed at exposing "radical" teachers. The list has inspired online trolls to name their own suspects - Albus Dumbledore, Dr. Pepper, Mr. Spock - and a Watchlist Redux to honor not trash targets from Jesus to teachers daring to "think critically about power." Now 100 Notre Dame professors have asked to join the list in solidarity, proclaiming, "We wish to be counted among those you are watching."